Staff Review: As one of today's most influential Christian writers and scholars, N. T. Wright stirs controversy on all sides. In Paul: Fresh Perspectives, Wright challenges many common scholarly and popular misreadings of Paul, emphasizing the importance of creation, covenant, the Messiah, apocalyptic, and eschatology. While self-consciously adopting a 'new perspective' approach, Wright nevertheless highlights both his own points of departure from other leading 'new perspective' scholars such as E. P. Sanders and J. D. G. Dunn, as well as his affinity with narrative readings of Paul exemplified by Richard Hays.
In Reformed circles, Wright has been met alternately with both warmth and ire, particularly with reference to Paul and the doctrine of justification. Helpfully, Wright knows and highlights his points of opposition to Reformed formulations. Unfortunately, some Reformed theologians and popularizers do leave themselves open to Wright's critiques. However, while in no way wishing to diminish Wright's many helpful insights into under-appreciated aspects of Paul's teaching, this reviewer finds the redefinition and limiting of justification unhelpful. As ever, Wright's masterful volume is worth a careful, critical read. -Matthew Harmon, Westminster Bookstore Staff, January 2006. |
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